One Malaysia receive their prize cheque from Alex Simpson, Bath graduate and Managing Director of Harding Financial
A team of students that set out to bring a Malaysian cultural experience to Bath’s high street has taken first prize in the University of Bath’s student enterprise competition.
The One Malaysia team made over £400 profit from the sale of authentic Malaysian snacks, beating eight other teams to take the title of best student business.
The students ran their businesses for a single day each, between 8 and 18 November, in an empty shop at 7a Lower Borough Walls. The competition was organised by the Student’s Union in conjunction with Bath & North East Somerset Council, which provided the premises.
The business ideas ranged from cakes and crêpes, to a tea emporium and life-drawing classes.
All the teams attended a Grand Finale at the Guildhall on Friday 25 November and gave a short presentation demonstrating what they had learnt about business from the project.
Jessica Lee from the One Malaysia team said: “It feels amazing to win. Our team was confident we’d make it into top three due to our high profits but we didn’t expect to win. The best thing about the competition has to be being able to experience real risk and profits.”
Siobáin Hone, Student Enterprise Coordinator in the Students’ Union, said: “This has been a fantastic year for the competition, we had over 30 entries and watched 26 pitches to come up with nine teams trading in the shop. This is the first year that every team has made a profit which means that the competition can pay its own way, be sustainable and run again next year.
The competition has also won a High Impact Award from the organisers of Global Entrepreneurship Week - our third successive award.
“One Malaysia is a worthy winner. The students picked five food items to sell, none of which can be found anywhere else in Bath. They marketed their product effectively, making the most of their connections in the Students’ Union’s Malaysian Society but also tempting the Bath public into the shop with samples.
“They controlled their costs and offered competitively priced meal deals with a good margin. The financial records they kept won praise from our accountant who audits the spending by the teams. They worked extremely well together and Jessica the team leader showed exceptional leadership skills.
“I’d like to thank everyone in Bath who supported the competition with their custom.”
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